Museum Siam
Bangkok
Museum Siam stands in an early 20th-century building designed by Italian architects. Today it is a museum where the history of Thailand is learned through play.
A building for offices
With its arches and portico, the building looks like a noble family's mansion. In fact it was built for the country's government offices, in the early 20th century (the 1900s).
The design came from a team of Italian architects and engineers. The chief architect and the chief engineer came from the same city. Both had worked in the country for more than twenty years.
What to see from outside
From the pavement, look at the front, with arches and pillars in Greek and Roman style. Behind the portico, the tall windows let in light and air.
In the game the building is seen from outside. Notice the light colour of the walls and the straight line of the roof.
From offices to museum
The offices stayed here for more than eighty years. The building was restored and reopened as a museum in 2008. It was the country's first museum designed for learning by doing. You learn with your hands and your head, at any age.
